This year, we wanted to offer something a bit gentler. We’ve brought together insights from our own COO and Executive Coach, Jess Rivett, and practical advice from Professional Organiser Emma Kenwrick-Meehan, founder of Home Nip & Tuck, to help you finish the year feeling organised, calm and ready to enjoy some real downtime.
Here are some simple ways to make the run-up to the holidays feel lighter.
1. Wrap-up your projects (as well as the presents!)
Before the out-of-office goes on, take a quick look over everything on your plate. What really needs finishing before the break? What just needs a clear update or agreed pause? And who needs to hear from you so you’re not thinking about them on Christmas Eve?
A quick summary email can save a surprising amount of mental noise for you and your clients.
2. Make your break an actual break
A proper break does more than help you unwind, it resets your brain so you return sharper, faster and more focused. When you fully switch off, you reduce stress, prevent burnout, regain creativity and make better decisions. Stepping back also gives you the clarity to see the bigger picture and set better priorities for the year ahead. In short, real rest isn’t time lost, it’s the fuel that makes you more productive when you return.
3. A quick festive check-in goes a long way
December is a brilliant time to reconnect with people you’ve worked with or met this year. It doesn’t need to be anything formal, a simple festive note works beautifully:
“Lovely working together this year — hope you have a relaxing festive break. Let’s catch up in January!”
It keeps the relationship warm without pressure.
4. Create some space — declutter before Christmas
Clutter drains your focus and when your brain is already juggling deadlines, shopping lists and social plans, even small messes feel louder. Clearing space now gives you more breathing room later.
Emma suggests three simple ways to create calm before Christmas:
Start with your high-traffic zones
Think kitchen counters, hallway drop-zones and your desk. These areas influence how every day feels.
Use the ‘one in, one out’ rule
For every new gift, decoration or delivery, remove one thing you no longer need.
Declutter your digital space
A tidy inbox or desktop frees mental space too.
Your environment sets the tone for how you show up at work, at home, everywhere.
5. Get ahead of the Christmas chaos
When people talk about December being overwhelming, what they often mean is: the chaos all came at once and I wasn’t ready for it. Emma’s approach is all about staying one step ahead, so the month feels manageable.
Here are her three tips for making the month more manageable:
Reverse-engineer your month
Lock in deadlines and events, then work backwards to schedule prep time.
Batch similar tasks
Wrap in one go, shop in one go, run errands in one go to avoid the stress of constant switching.
Set a daily reset habit
A five-minute clear-up before bed (counters, tables, high-use areas) creates a calm start and puts you in control from the moment you wake up.
Think of December like a project. The clearer your plan, the calmer the execution. Treat the month with the same structure you’d give a major deadline, and suddenly decision fatigue drops, last-minute panic fades, and you make space to enjoy, not just survive, the season.
6. Keep New Year planning light
You don’t need a full strategy for January. A few gentle intentions are more than enough.
What work energises you? Who would you love to collaborate with? What boundaries helped you this year and which ones slipped?
A light check-in is more sustainable (and kinder to yourself) than a dramatic overhaul.
7. Leave yourself something easy for January
8. And most important: Rest
Real rest. Without guilt. Without “I’ll just quickly check…”
Consultants rarely get totally uninterrupted time, so protect it where you can. It’s not indulgent, it’s essential. Think It’s a Wonderful Life, a box of Cadbury Heroes and absolutely no notifications……..
Calm isn’t something that just happens; we create it through lots of small choices. Setting boundaries, planning ahead, taking a breath before rushing into the next task… it all adds up.
Pair that with Emma’s smart, soothing approach to decluttering and festive prep, and you’ve got a recipe for a smoother, more enjoyable December.
Finish well, tie up the loose ends, reconnect with the people who made your year better, and carve out space to rest. You’ve earned it, and January will be far brighter for it.